MUMBAI: Harsh Chhaya, who was part of shows like Hasratein, Tara, and Swabhimaan, to name a few, and movies like Company, Dum, Saaya, Janasheen, Ramji Londonwaley, Corporate, Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, and Mithya, among others, recently featured in Not Today: A Suicide Prevention Story, a short film by Aditya Kripalani. The movie is a conversation that starts after a call is made to the Suicide Prevention Helpline.
The actor shared that he was drawn to the character and the storyline.
Harsh said, “I was approached for a role in the film. I've always been interested in alternate cinema, as I find it more relatable and, in a way, more experimental. That makes it fascinating for me, as long as it doesn’t stray too far from my personal taste. I was particularly drawn to this film because of its format: two actors talking to each other over the phone.”
Aditya’s films on Netflix - Tikli and Laxmi Bomb and Tota Patakha Item Maal, had a successful run, and that was another reason for Harsh to come on-board Not Today: A Suicide Prevention Story.
He further said, “The most fascinating part, though, was that Aditya makes his films on extremely tight budgets, often using his own money. His approach is almost like guerilla filmmaking, especially when shooting in public spaces like streets, metro stations, and local trains. This raw, unconventional style of cinema intrigued me more than the subject itself.”
He also shared that he was constantly in awe of how the film was being made, and mentioned every day felt like a new challenge. “In an era when making films is so expensive and complicated, it takes immense conviction and courage to create something like this,” he said.
Harsh had a candid conversation with the director, admitting that he doesn’t fully understand the mindset of someone with suicidal thoughts. “I believe I’m far removed from that mentality and have never known anyone personally in that situation. All I had to rely on was what the director told me and the script. We did a couple of tests, and I guess he was satisfied with my approach. I relied solely on my instincts,” he said.
He also confessed that shooting for the film was an emotionally intense journey, and it was mentally and physically exhausting. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt so drained by anything else I’ve worked on, except perhaps for Undekhi. What truly captivated me about this project was the process—making a film with the bare minimum, where everyone involved contributed to the extreme to the final product,” he ended.
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